GRAY HISTORY
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Gray Church (Methodist then United)
​1915 - 1982

The first Methodist church district in the area included Buck Lake, Milestone and Wilcox. In 1905, Iowa School joined this circuit, with Dr. F.B. Ball as minister. The next year Milestone left for another circuit. Mr. Surtees became the minister for the local charge receiving a salary of $500/yr and $40/yr horse-keeping expenses. In 1909 there were 57 members registered on the Iowa church membership roll and six on probation. Church membership was not easily obtained and later records showed members being 'struck off' for non-attendance or having left the district. In 1910-11 there was another shuffle and Riceton joined Buck Lake and Iowa, and became a separate circuit with Reverend Dunlop - now salaried at $1000/yr and $100/yr horse-keeping (in the summers he opted for using his motorcycle). A farmhouse was moved into Riceton to serve as a manse in 1913. The Iowa School congregation had now become so large that a new church was to be constructed in Gray. Buck Lake closed in 1919.
Picture
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The first church in Gray was built in 1914 (initially as a Methodist Church) on flat bridge planks, an accepted method of construction at the time. The supervising carpenter was Mr. Lillebeau. The plan was similar to the Wilcox church, except the floor sloped slightly towards the front. The Ladies Aid Society (formed in 1914) did much of the organizing and fundraising required to furnish the new facility.
Lightning struck in 1916 and caused a fire in the spire as well as damage to the roof and some interior plaster. Heavy rain followed that snuffed out the fire, so effectively the full extent of the damage of the burning inside the wall was not realized till the building was torn down in 1983. Fundraising allowed a concrete basement to be added in 1920. The church was raised on blocks and timbers, the basement was dug with horses and slush scrapers the forms were built, concrete was mixed by hand on the site. Finally the church was lowered on the finished concrete structure. A new coal-burning furnace was installed for heating. The new basement space was now used as a community gathering venue as well as for church groups - Temperance Society, Christian Girls In Training - CGIT, Explorers, Tyros, Tuxis Boys, Mission Band).
In 1921 the Tuxis Boys church group purchased a Victor 12-Volt projector. A lighted and hand-cranked moving picture machine. Films changed every week and were sourced through a mail-order service from Regina. to host movie nights.

In 1925 the church celebrated the burning of the church mortgage. Later that same year they chose to become part of the United Church of Canada. Estlin joined Gray and Riceton - so three churches were served on the Riceton Charge. Gray was honoured to have the Moderator of the United Church of Canada Reverend Dr. Nicholson preach September 16 1950.
1954 was the year the title to the property for the Gray Cemetery was turned over to the church.
At the Golden Jubilee service held in Riceton, Reverend Ball (preached at Buck Lake and Iowa in 1905) presented the sermon.
The 50th Anniversary of Gray Church was celebrated October 25 1964 with a service in the morning, a noon luncheon at Gray Memorial Hall and evening worship at 7pm (Order of Service). Efforts were made to invite ministers that had preached at the charge over the years (letter).
In 1965 a manse (lodging for the minister) was built on the corner of Main Street and 3rd Avenue.
As of 1968, the church basement had deteriorated to the extent that Sunday School classes were moved to the Gray School. By May 1979 it was determined that a remodel was not possible and a building committee was formed for a new church.

The church building was sold and demolished in April 1983.

1982 - 


​A building committee was selected in 1979; Dean Boesch, Brock Burwell, Cal Carnegie, Drexel Ford, Norton Frei and Hugh McGillivray. It was determined the project would cost about $125,000 (not including volunteer labour). Fundraising began and the official sod-turning was June 8 1980. The lots at the corner of Gray Street and 3rd Avenue were donated by Bill and Sina (Bebe) Gillis. Just two years later the new structure was complete. The new facility was dedicated June 20 1982. The service had Reverend Laird White officiating, organ and piano accompaniment (Sharon and Debra Frei). Visiting officials were Reverend Dave Iverson, Reverend Alex Taylor and Mrs. Marg Faris (Regina Presbytery - Chair).
In memorium; Pulpit (Jack and Matilda Burwell), communion trays (Art and Eva Howlett), pulpit emblem (F.B. Lewis), Hammond organ (Gottlieb Boesch Jr.), baptismal font (Garnet Boesch), record player and exterior speakers (C.C. Gillis and Grant Gillis), brass collection plates (L.E. and Sara Carter), bronzed exterior lettering (Wylie and Libby LaFoy). In Remembrance catalogue linked here.

Ministers serving the area include; Reverend F.B. Ball (1905-06), Mr. Surtees (1906-07), Mr. Cook (1907-08), Mr. A.V. Knowlton (1908), Reverend J.H. Hains (1909-10), Mr. J. Adlord (1911), Mr. W.W. Westwood (1912), Reverend Dunlop (1913), Reverend R. Hamilton (1913-15), Reverend Mason (1915-18), Reverend G. Hancock (1918-22), Reverend Edward Smith (1922-25), Reverend A.Y. Robertson (1926), Reverend James Smith (1927-28), Reverend Thomas W. Johnson (1928-30), Reverend Herbert Toombs (1930-33), Reverend W. Lloyd (1933-40), Mr. F. W. Malcolm (1940-42), Reverend J. Watts (1942-46), Reverend G.A. Wilson (1946-49), Dr. F. Passmore (1949-52), Reverend J. Dunnett (1952-56), Dr. M.O. Thomas (1956-57), Reverend William Banks (1957-60), Reverend Bryan Colquhoun (1960-70), Reverend Laird White (1970-82), Ms. Sharon Davis 1982-, to present 

Stories
  • An item from the United Church Observer magazine some time in the 1970's And he won't run from the Posse... There it was on the the wall of Gray's General Store - an official-looking Wanted Dead or Alive poster, offering a $5000 reward for Reverend Laird White, horse thief. Now, the Reverend Laird White enjoys a good joke but he couldn't let the poster go unanswered. So soon there was a hand-printed message tacked below; "The above mentioned may be contacted at the United Church Hideout, known only to  a few devoted followers. This noted gang with its now famous (or infamous) leader will be found here every Sunday morning at 11:30a.m. There is room for all who seek a reward."
Hamlet of Gray has present day info.
  • Home
    • People >
      • ties that bind 1984
      • ties that bind 2005
      • ties that bind 2005 DVD
      • Articles and Stories
    • Places >
      • Buck Lake Church
      • Grain Elevators
      • Gray Businesses
      • Gray Cemetery
      • Gray Memorial Hall
      • Gray Museum/#306 SHoF >
        • 306 Sports Hall of Fame >
          • Rose Baker
          • Garth Boesch
          • Myrna Bonsor
          • Jesse Bratt
          • Ernie Dunning
          • Walter Dunning
          • Estlin 306's
          • Anita Ford
          • Atina Ford
          • Cindy Ford
          • Gary Ford
          • Ford Curling Team
          • Frei Curling Team
          • Crystal Frisk
          • Bill Gillis
          • KC Gillis
          • Morley Gooding
          • Dale Henry
          • Link Johnston
          • Kawuza brothers
          • Clarence 'Shoop' Lafoy
          • Wylie LaFoy
          • Don Lewis
          • Kristy Lewis
          • Lisa Lewis Kuski
          • Peter Noll
          • Gerald O'Brien
          • Mac Paton
          • George Spry
          • Fred Van de Kamp
          • Harold Webster
          • Induction Ceremonies
        • Grid Map Ceiling
        • Three town diorama
      • Gray Rink
      • Gray School
      • Gray Shortline Railroad
      • Gray United Church
      • Pioneer Windmill
      • Rural Municipality
      • Town Lots and Residents
      • Town images - aerial and other
    • Sports and Clubs >
      • Baseball
      • Children's Groups
      • Curling and Bonspiels
      • Figure Skating
      • Hockey
      • Ice Making
      • Ladies Groups
      • Masonic Lodge
      • Softball/Fastball
    • Timeline/Events >
      • 1984 Homecoming
      • 1987 Aquifer
      • Lagoon
      • 2005 Stanley Cup
      • 2005 Sask Centennial
      • 2011 Centennial
  • Contact Us